The absorption potential of agricultural soils could contribute significantly to fulfilling the reduction objective of the EU, which is -8% between 2008 and 2012 from a 1990 base.

Just to give a tentative list of key measures, the following have been singled out by the WG agriculture of the European Climate Change Programme: - Mitigation potential of Nitrous Oxide emissions from agricultural soils - Sequestration potential of agricultural soils - Mitigation potential of Carbon Dioxide by providing renewable raw materials for the energy/industrial sector - Mitigation potential of Methane emissions from enteric fermentation and - Mitigation potential of Methane and Nitrous Oxide emissions from manure management At least the first 2 measures might be properly tackled through a strategy aiming at proper reuse of composted organic waste. Actually, in addition to the measures listed above, many other possible side-effects of compost application may have some relevance, e.g. - replacement of chemical fertilisers (implies avoidance of Greenhouse Gases and energy uptake related to their production) - reduction of use of pesticides (might imply avoiding emissions for their production), - improved tilth and workability (might lead to less consumption of fuels) etc.

The contribution singles out basic figures and (above all) strategic views for a preliminary assessment of the contribution of composting to tackle climate change issues, which, albeit affected by various uncertainties, cannot be neglected any more when it comes to environmental policy-making.

When considering organic matter only as a source of energy, policy drivers fail to consider the importance of Organic Matter in the soil. That is actually what happened with the Directive on Renewable Sources of Energy, which constitutes an economic driver only for energetic exploitation of organic waste.